Look In Java

The Pros and Cons of Java 11

Lukasz D's photo
Lukasz D
·

3 min read

Pros of Java 11

  • Improved performance: Java 11 offers better performance in terms of startup time, throughput, and garbage collection.

  • Enhanced security: Java 11 includes new security features, such as TLS 1.3 support and improved cryptography algorithms.

  • New features and APIs: Java 11 introduces new language features and APIs, such as the HTTP client API and the var keyword.

  • Long-term support: Java 11 is a long-term support (LTS) release, which means that it will receive security and bugfix updates for a longer period than non-LTS releases.

Cons of Java 11

  • Compatibility issues: Java 11 drops support for some older features and APIs, which may cause compatibility issues for applications that rely on them.

  • Migration challenges: Upgrading to Java 11 may require significant changes to code and build processes, which can be time-consuming and costly.

  • Limited tool support: Some popular tools and libraries may not yet be fully compatible with Java 11, which may limit the development options available to developers.

Features in Java 11

  1. Local-Variable Syntax for Lambda Parameters: In previous versions of Java, lambda expressions could only use explicitly typed parameters. With Java 11, developers can now use the "var" keyword to declare the type of the parameter implicitly.

  2. HTTP Client API: Java 11 introduces a new HTTP client API, which makes it easier to send HTTP requests and receive responses in Java. The API supports HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2, and provides a more modern and flexible alternative to the legacy HttpURLConnection class.

  3. Dynamic Class-File Constants: Java 11 introduces a new constant pool form for storing constants in class files. This allows constants to be loaded and accessed more efficiently at runtime, improving performance for some types of applications.

  4. ZGC: Z Garbage Collector (ZGC) is a new low-latency garbage collector that is designed to work with large heaps (up to 16TB). ZGC provides consistent pause times regardless of heap size, making it suitable for applications that require high-throughput and low-latency.

  5. Flight Recorder: Java 11 includes the Java Flight Recorder (JFR) feature, which was previously only available in the commercial Oracle JDK. JFR provides low-overhead profiling and monitoring of Java applications, allowing developers to diagnose performance and stability issues more easily.

  6. Unicode 10 Support: Java 11 includes support for Unicode 10. This includes new characters, scripts, and emojis, as well as improvements to existing character properties and algorithms.

  7. Nest-Based Access Control: Java 11 introduces the concept of "nestmates", which allows classes in the same package to access each other's private members. This makes it easier to encapsulate code and enforce access control rules.

These are just some of the new features introduced in Java 11. Some many other improvements and bugfixes can help make Java development more efficient and effective.

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